All Whites secure Australia clash to launch Cup run-in

The All Whites are set to reignite their long-standing trans-Tasman rivalry with Socceroos and launch the final leg of their World Cup build-up with an epic fixture at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 24.

The match at the 100,000 capacity venue will be the first meeting between the two sides in five years and the last chance to see the All Whites play before they head to South Africa via Austria.

The chance to renew an on-field relationship stretching back to 1922 was an opportunity New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert was sure would whet the appetite of all kiwi sports fans.

"It’s great that we can reignite this fixture," Herbert said, "who better to play than Australia?"

"New Zealand versus Australia has synergies across all sorts of sports and arouses a lot of passion for both sets of fans. It’s a unique fixture and one that we’d hope would become a regular fixture in the sporting calendar."

The 2010 finals in South Africa will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature both Australia and New Zealand.

"It lifts the rivalry to a new level."

"It’s perfect timing with both nations heading to the World Cup. We’ve been following what Australia done over the last few years and it’s great to think there’ll be 80,000 or 90,000 fans at the MCG to send the teams off."

By managing to secure fixture down under, New Zealand Football have now ensured home fans would have the chance to see their heroes before they depart for just their second World Cup appearance.

The full squad, including US and European based stars, will assemble in New Zealand following the end of club commitments in mid May.

New Zealand Football has now confirmed off-shore warm-up matches against Mexico (March 3), Australia (May 24), Serbia (May 29), and Slovenia (June 4) but CEO Michael Glading says the All Whites build up is just the tip of a football iceberg.

"The All Whites will capture New Zealand’s imagination this year just as they did in 1982 but there’s a lot of work being done to ensure the future is even brighter and the game remains in good health after the event."

Glading said it was a case of watch this space for more announcements on plans for the game in New Zealand.

The two sides have met no fewer than 62 times and while Australia have a clear edge in the head to head stakes, New Zealand have pulled off victories at crucial times, including a win in Auckland in 2002 that sealed qualification to the FIFA Confederations Cup, with current skipper Ryan Nelsen scoring the only goal of the game.

New Zealand’s last win on Australian soil came in 1998, thanks to a Mark Burton goal, with qualification to the Confederations Cup a year later again the spoils.

The MCG was the venue for the Socceroos' farewell match for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, when a record 95,103 fans watched them beat Greece 1-0.